description: Las Vigas (claim), Veracruz, Mexico
10" across
Ex Karl Kempf collection
This piece was bought from Wayne Thompson at the Tucson Show, 2006. It is one of the finest matrix Veracruz plates in existence. Veracruz produced some of the finest amethyst in existence. Amethyst is also appreciated by almost all collectors whether they be advanced or sophisticated.
The slender, gemmy crystals of amethyst are mainly pristine and intensely colored. It is one of the largest and most spectacular plates from this remote locality ever to have been removed.
Although I own several fine amethyst specimens from different worldwide localities, this is by far my best specimen of amethyst.
I intend to build a specialized collection of ultra-fine worldwide amethyst specimens and this will be the centerpiece of my amethyst sub-collection.
It was removed during the 1980's from Las Vigas. This remote mining claim in Mexico only produced a trickle of fine amethyst specimens even during the 1980's when Mexico was not plagued by its present civil instability which could not help specimen production. Production of amethyst from this locality continues and I have seen many pieces mined within the past 12 months. None of them were of the size, general esthetics or quality of this elite piece which is among the finest in existence and would belong in any great collection or museum of world class mineral specimens.